(April 11, 2005) - For many decades, people with disabilities have been denied the right to vote independently in our nation's elections. The disability community has aggressively advocated over the past few years to get New York state to remove the barriers that still prevent our people from voting independently. A report recently published by the New York State Independent Living Council reveals that patterns of voter discrimination still exist for New Yorkers with disabilities.
Shortly after Election Day 2004, the state's 44 dependent living centers contacted individuals with disabilities to determine the barriers they had faced on Election Day. Ninety-two voting discrimination complaints were received from across the state, with a considerable number originating in Monroe County. The complaints identified a lack of access to polling sites, voting machines and the ballot. These are problems the state must fix.
Complaints identified stairs and locked doors at sites that were supposedly accessible. The report also showed that many locations did not have voting instructions or ballots available in large print for people who are visually impaired. The report gave accounts of individuals with disabilities who were denied the ability to vote or who lost privacy or independence in a process that is guaranteed every American's basic right.
The Help America Vote Act of 2002 dictates that improvements in election administration and the replacement of outdated voting systems must be completed nationwide by 2006. The implementation of HAVA provides New York state with substantial financial support to update our system and allow all voters to vote privately and independently. For too long, individuals with disabilities have been denied full access to the voting process. Now is the time to embrace changes that would level the playing field for everyone.
A Senate and Assembly conference committee convened in March to address these and other election reform issues, with no resolution. It is vital the committee reaches consensus to ensure statewide compliance with HAVA. People with disabilities must be able to vote freely and independently. The results of this conference committee are directly tied to New York state's ability to use HAVA federal funds.
If our legislators in Albany fail to agree, we will need to balance the cost of implementation on the backs of New York state taxpayers.
State lawmakers are obliged to ensure full access to the voting process for individuals with disabilities. It is time to remove the barriers that have kept our people from fully participating in democracy.
Spino is systems advocate, Center for Disability Rights in Rochester.
To learn more
A complete copy of the New York State Independent Living Council voter discrimination report can be found at www.nysilc.org <http://www.nysilc.org>.